Posted by SGT on September 4, 2008, 3:02 pm, in reply to "16 ga. questions"
There are a few factory documented 24" barreled Smith guns; but they are rare. I would suggest your friend spend the bucks to get a letter to verify originality, as that is the only way to authenticate original barrel length at shipping; as chokes, even on cut barrels, were regularly removed, altered, or re-installed. As to Damascus barrels on post-13 Smith guns, Damascus barrels on at least the Ideal thru Specialty Grades are not uncommon up to about 1919/1920; after that date they must be very rare, as I don't recall having ever seen a late example with Damascus. As to the single trigger option, one will regularly find graded ejector guns w/o that option as the Hunter one-trigger was very costly; adding at least $25 or more to the cost of a given gun.